An
excellent observation Tom, and in accord with what I've noticed over the years
as well. These observations are also consistent with simple
mechanical analysis of the setup: The weight - which provides the only
"down force" is concentrated on the far end at the fly. "Up force"
is generated - to varying degrees, depending on line diameter, line angle and
current speed - along the entire length of the wetted portion of the line.
A more detailed analysis would be considerably more complex and would need to
take into account factors such as line flexibility and aerodynamic lift, etc. as
well as current speed variations along the length of the line, but even the
simple analysis makes the point: Every inch of the line (and leader) is
pushing up while the only thing pushing down is the little gob of
steel and lead at the far end. And lest you tend to discount this upward
push effect as trivial, keep in mind next time you're flying it's
*exactly* this effect that's keeping you from falling into those fields below
(only in this case it's air and it's pushing on the wings of the plane).
I
think where weight really does come in handy is in slow or still water
environments (or dead-drifted in faster water) where the weight imparts an
action distinct from that of a weighted line, and for getting right on the
bottom when fishing a swung fly in stronger currents. In the latter case
the force is applied exactly where it's required (at the very end) and helps
avoid the nasty snagging that occurs when the entire fly line (or even just the
tip) drags the bottom.
-Wes
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2002 4:39 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Weighted flies
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2002 4:39 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Weighted flies
Have you folks ever checked out the "extra" depth you get with a weighed fly in a wet fly swing?
My observation has been that weighted flies create very little additional depth over what your sinktip provides.
Suspend your sinktip in the current in front of you some time, and check out the difference in depth of the end of the sinktip, and a weighted fly.
For what it is worth, I use a 15' type VI for 80% of my swinging wet fishing.
Hey, I enjoy the comparison of techniques/ideas. That's what is cool about this group.
Let's all look forward to the arrival of the natives who will move to a fly!
Tom Moore
